Doing It Differently: Alternative Assessment Strategies - NAGC

African cultural components in cognitive ability testing:Hypothesized effects of African-centered values and beliefsDimension General Description Influence on Test ResponsesCommunalismExpressivenessOrality (oral traditional)Valuing of one's group(s) morethan outsiders or otherindividuals; social;interdependent.Unique personality isexpressed through one'sbehavioral styles; creative, risktaker; spontaneous.Knowledge may be gained andtransmitted orally and aurally;a preference to talk andexplain verbally.Performance may beinfluenced when test taker isanxious about the test scoresbeing reflective of his/hercultural group and havingnegative consequences forthem.Test taker may choose themore imaginative responsealternative; may be impulsive inchoosing responses.Test performance may differwhen the test taker is testedorally and aurally; test takermay be frustrated by paperpenciltest.Ford, 2008